In defense of California taxpayers, State Senator Janet Nguyen today announced that she has introduced Senate Constitutional Amendment (SCA 15) to preserve taxpayer protections that were approved by voters in 1996 through Proposition 218. A recent court decision has opened the door for tax increases that are placed on the ballot through the local initiative process to be approved by a simple majority vote instead of a 2/3rds vote. Senator Nguyen is joined by principal coauthor Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates, eleven Senators, and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

In response to the Court decision in California Cannabis Coalition v. City of Upland, Senator Janet Nguyen and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association began drafting SCA 15 with the intent to close potential loopholes that were opened by the Court’s decision. SCA 15 would ensure that Proposition 218, also known as the Right to Vote on Taxes Act is applied as intended by California voters.

“Through SCA 15 we seek to protect the will of California voters and ensure that decades old taxpayer protections remain in place,” said Senator Janet Nguyen “California taxpayers are already overwhelmed with new taxes and it is important that the threshold to raise taxes remains at 2/3rds.”

“SCA 15 is absolutely critical to maintain the full taxpayer protections of Proposition 13,” said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. “The recent Supreme Court ruling has resulted in chaos in the legal community over its meaning and has led some special interests to begin plotting to raise local taxes without the required voter approval.”

“Due to an unfortunate court decision, special interest groups are considering options to make the most of their newfound opportunity to more easily impose tax increases at the local level,” said Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel). “To protect families who are already struggling to pay high tax bills, the Legislature must pass SCA 15 to maintain the taxpayer protections enshrined in Proposition 218. I am proud to join Senator Nguyen and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association in their fight to restore a necessary safeguard against overtaxation.”

Senator Nguyen expects SCA 15 to be heard in committee in January 2018. If approved, SCA 15 would be placed on the June 2018 statewide ballot.

About Senator Janet Nguyen

Senator Janet Nguyen was overwhelmingly elected to represent the residents of California’s 34th State Senate District in 2014. With this victory, Senator Nguyen became the first woman elected to represent the 34th Senate District and the first Vietnamese-American in the country to be elected to the State Senate. Senator Nguyen is the highest-ranking Vietnamese American elected official in California.

The 34th State Senate District includes the cities of Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Los Alamitos, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Westminster, the unincorporated communities of Midway City and Rossmoor, as well as portions of Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Long Beach, and Orange.

About Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates

Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) represents the 36th Senate District in the California Legislature, which covers South Orange County, North San Diego County and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook.